LUKE 24

He’s Alive!

The women that came to the tomb that morning could have easily decided to just skip it (the “they” in verse 1 refers to the women, as in the end of the previous chapter). But they had purposed to bury Jesus properly, and that meant spices and oil for the body, in accordance with the customs. We can say they should have expected what they found when they got there, but we sure have the benefit of lots of hindsight.

So they go report to the eleven (remember, Judas is dead by now), causing Peter to run to the tomb. We know from other accounts that John did, too. Peter goes home, marveling at what he saw and heard. But as of yet, he had not encountered the risen Christ.

Cleopas and some others are on the way to Emmaus, and Jesus finds them walking, though they do not recognize Him. They tell this “stranger” about what had taken place in Jerusalem over the past week, incredulous that there is someone who does not know about all that went on. The sentiment was that the possibility of Israel’s redemption rested on Jesus’ shoulders, and now that He was dead, it appeared that the opportunity had come and gone. His followers were discouraged, and it’s not hard to understand why.

The news was that the women had gone to the tomb and found it empty, along with messengers telling them that He was alive. Men went and found the same empty tomb, though they did not meet Jesus there. The faith of the men was already being tested, as they either had to believe the witness of the women, or wait to see themselves.

A key strength of the gospel account is that of the statements of the women. Legally, a woman’s account meant nothing. So if the gospel writers and early church wanted to give more credibility to their “stories”, they could have said the men were the key witnesses. The fact that they record the account as it happened tells me they really believed it, and that it really happened that way.

Jesus taught these men during the walk toward Emmaus about Moses and the prophets, about all things concerning Him. Verse 31 records their eyes being opened as they realize who He is. He had been eating with them, and then He vanished, and they rush back to Jerusalem to share the news. He’s alive!

And by this time, Peter knew, too. His denial now past history, he knows his Savior is alive.

To further eliminate doubt, Jesus appears in the middle of the eleven, shows them His hands and feet, albeit now part of a glorified body, and their minds are opened to fully understand what has taken place.

The message is clear: repentance and forgiveness must be proclaimed. One must repent to be forgiven. And no matter what the disciples thought, they are told that they ARE witnesses. Not that they SHOULD be witnesses, they ARE.

And most comforting of all, after they realize He must now depart from the earth, He promises to send help to them. He promises to give them utterance when they need it, and they will, as you read the book of Acts. He will give them the words to say. In Acts, we know that the Holy Spirit came, and gave the apostles the power to preach, the power to respond to the questions and accusations. Yet Jesus said that He would be the one to help. We can only realize that Jesus’ spirit is the Holy Spirit, they are one. A nice reference to the Trinity here.

While I won’t write on it now, go and read Acts 1 next. Luke wrote that after finishing this gospel, it may actually be all one letter. Read the resurrection account here, then read the charge to believers in Acts 1:8, and realize that HE IS ALIVE, and we serve a risen Savior!

SO WHAT…?

So, I need to get excited that He is alive. This is foundational truth which I must base my life upon. And I need to find others to tell, He will also give me the words to say.

So, I am a witness. It’s not “I should be a witness”, but rather, I am indeed a witness, good, bad, or otherwise. People watch you and me, and I pray God covers where I fall short, and I pray that God is seen through me when I happen to get it right.

So, I have the accounts of witnesses written down, inspired by God. I can believe, or not. As for me, He’s alive!